XXIII. 4 i.] THE SECOND BOOK. 245 



would dry there ; but the other answered, True, but if it 

 do, how shall we get out again ? 



42. Another precept of this knowledge is that ancient 

 precept of Bias, construed not to any point of perfidious- 

 ness, but only to caution and moderation, Et ama tan- 

 quam immicus fulurus et odi tanquam amalurus. For it 

 utterly betrayeth all utility for men to embark themselves 

 too far into unfortunate friendships, troublesome spleens&quot;, 

 and childish and humorous envies or emulations. 



43. But I continue this beyond the measure of an 

 example; led, because I would not have such know 

 ledges, which I note as deficient, to be thought things 

 imaginative or in the air, or an observation or two much 

 made of, but things of bulk and mass, whereof an end is 

 hardlier made than a beginning. It must be likewise con 

 ceived, that in these points which I mention and set down, 

 they are far from complete tractates of them, but only as 

 small pieces for patterns. And lastly, no man I suppose 

 will think that I mean fortunes are not obtained without 

 all this ado ; for I know they come tumbling into some 

 men s laps ; and a number obtain good fortunes by dili 

 gence in a plain way, little intermeddling, and keeping 

 themselves from gross errors. 



44. But as Cicero, when he setteth down an idea of a 

 perfect orator, doth not mean that every pleader should 

 be such; and so likewise, when a prince or a courtier 

 hath been described by such as have handled those sub 

 jects, the mould hath used to be made according to the 

 perfection of the art, and not according to common prac 

 tice: so I understand it, that it ought to be done in the 

 description of a politic man, I mean politic for his own 

 fortune. 



45. But it must be remembered all this while, that the 



